The past week at Peninsula Players has been flooded with tugs to company members’ heartstrings.

As we approached the close of the summer season, we said "See you soon" to several company members while congratulating others on their Joseph Jefferson Award nominations. The Jeff Awards are the Chicago equivalent to Broadway’s Tony Awards.

We also received the news of the deaths of playwright Neil Simon and Margaret Thompson, the wife of Players "Grand Poobah" Bob Thompson, who directed or performed in many of Simon’s works at Peninsula Players during his long association as actor and artistic director of our troupe.

The Thompson family was in our thoughts this week when we learned Margaret passed away Aug. 27, surrounded by her family. Bob and Margaret married in the summer of 1946, after exchanging letters for almost six months before meeting in person in January of 1946. Margaret earned a Master of Music degree in violin performance from Northwestern University, was Concertmaster of the West Suburban Symphony Orchestra for 40 years and taught violin privately for many years. Bob preceded Margaret in death in June 2010.

Margaret’s vivacious presence and support of the arts in Door County will be greatly missed. The entire Peninsula Players family sends its condolences to the Thompson family. A memorial service for Margaret is being planned for Nov. 17, with visitation at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay.

On the brighter side, Peninsula Players was thrilled to hear several of its current and past company members received Jeff Award nominations for their work this past year in Chicago. Their professionalism shines through in every performance and their work is dazzling on the Players’ stage. You can see why they have been nominated elsewhere for their work.

This year’s nominee for Production Play and Musical or Revue – Large includes Chicago Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and Victory Garden Theater’s “Fun Home,” in both of which McKinley Carter (“Sunday in the Park with George”) performed. Doug Peck, music director for our “Into the Woods," was also nominated for his work on “Fun Home.”

The Solo Performance category nominations include Kate Fry (“Into the Woods”) for her performance of Emily Dickinson in “The Belle of Amherst” at Court Theatre; James Leaming (“Alabama Story”) for “This Wonderful Life” at American Blue Theater; and Tv and movie star Stacy Keach, whose parents performed at Peninsula Players in the late 1930s, for portraying Ernest Hemingway in “Pamplona” at Goodman Theatre. Stacy’s understudy was Players veteran Neil Friedman, who played Vince Lombardi in our production of “Lombardi.”

Kudos to Matt Crowle, who directed “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “The Drowsy Chaperone” and made his Peninsula Players acting debut in “Living on Love,” for two nominations: Best Performer in a Supporting Role in Drury Lane's production of “South Pacific” and Performer in a Principal Role in “Merrily We Roll Along” at Porchlight Music Theatre.

Sean Fortunato (“The Drowsy Chaperone”) also earned a nomination for Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical for his portrayal of Dad in “Billy Elliot the Musical” at Porchlight.

Director Elizabeth Margolius (“Miss Holmes”) is nominated for Artistic Specialization in Movement Direction for “Machinal” at Greenhouse Theater Center in association with North Central College.

Lilli-Anne Brown (“Little Shop of Horrors”) is nominated in the Musical – Midsize category for her direction of “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story” at American Blues Theater.

Several Players designers are also nominated for their work: sound designers Rick Sims for “20,000 Leagues Under The Seas” at Lookingglass Theatre Company and Christopher Kriz for “The 39 Steps” at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, “The Heavens Are Hung in Black” at Shattered Globe Theatre” and “Mary’s Wedding” at First Folio Theatre.

Courtney O’Neill, scenic painter for “The Lady’s not for Burning,” is nominated for her scenic design of “Plantation!” at Lookingglass. Former wig master and costume designer Samantha C. Jones designed costumes for Court Theatre’s production of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” which is nominated in the Large Play category.

Our new and final show of the season, “Salvage,” opens Wednesday. Join us for this Wisconsin debut that is a bit mystery-drama with comedy and romance tossed in. Visit peninsulaplayers.com to learn more or call the box office at 920-868-3287. We hope you will join us by the bay, where the sun sets, the curtain rises and the stars shine.

Audra Baakari Boyle is business manager at Peninsula Players Theatre and is celebrating her 24th season with the company.